Postage meter



Feb 24, I925.

-| L-. MACK POSTAGE METER File d Feb.

5 .5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb 24, m5.

L. L.. MACK STAGE Filed Feb. '26, 1923 METER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb 24,1925.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3- Filed Feb. 26, 1923 Feb. 24, 1925. r L. L. MACKPOSTAGE METER Filed Feb. 26, 1923 Feb 24; 1,925. 1,527,366

L. L. MACK POSTAGE METER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26', 1923 hisPatented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER L. MACK, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'I O MACKHOLDING COMPANY.

POSTAGE METER Application filed February 26, 1923. Serial No. 621,396.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER L. MACK, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of South Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Postage Meters,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to postage meters, and the main object is toprovide an improved type of small hand power machine also capable of usewith an electric motor,

' set by authorized postal ofiicials and locked whereby postageimpressions in lieu of stamps afiixed may be applied to mail matter ofordinary thickness, width and length, in rapid order and successively asthe matter is fed through the machine.

The invention contemplates the provision of a light weightefiicientofiice appliance, which can be manufactured at a minimum costwherebythe mailers may imprint the stamps on the mail matter direct formail-.

ing, and embodies a meter detachably held on the machine and adapted toregister the successive impressions made, and capable of removal wherebythe same may be taken to the postoflice for the purpose of resetting.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character mentionedembodying a meter liavinga'stationary'housing for enclosing a rotaryprinting cylinder and a counting mechanism therein which is capable ofbeing against unauthorized access during use, and adapted toautomatically lock against further use when a predetermined number ofimpressions have been made and registered thereon.

Another object is to provide an improved after inder, showing theoperative connection of the same with the counter actuating device. Flg.6 1s a section of the meter on line 6-G of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section of the counting mechanism within the meter, on line77 of Fig. 6. Flg. 8 1s a front elevation of the machine.

I Fig. 9 is 'an elevation of the separating mechanism as seen from line9-9 of Fig. 8. Flg. 10, 1s a sectional plan of the machine on line10.-10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a face view of the printing cylinder showing the lockingmeans therefor.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary peripheral view of the printing cylindershowing theprintmg die.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of one of the counting units.

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation on line 14- 14 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation on line 1515 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 16'is a sectional elevation on line 16-16 of Fig. 14; and

Fig; 17 is a sectional elevation of the same on line 17-17 of Fig. 16. I

Now, referring to the said drawings, it will be noted that I provide aseparable-base including a main member B, having a vertical front wall1, a horizontal bed 2, a de pending apron 3, and a. rearwardly extendedood portion 4. A vertical partition member B is secured by means of aplurality of screws 5-, 5, etc., to the hood 4 of member B, said screwsbeing extended through the partition B and secured in lugs 6, 6, etc.,of member B.

A gear case B is secured to the member B by means of a plurality ofscrews 7, 7, etc, extending through the member B and secured in lugs 8,8, etc., formed on the member B, and said member B" has a downwardlyextending portion corresponding to and forming a continuation of theapron 3 of member B, so that the members B, B and B" will completelyhouse the opcratin members of the machine, as hereindescribed. To thefront face of thewall 1 of memher B I attach a meter which includesseparable casing mbers M and M de tachably held together by means of aplural ity of screws 9 9 etc, having their heads counter-sunk in bores10 of the member'M, and the inner ends thereof be threaded to the memberM. Said meter also includes a removably held end closure M" which isadapted to closethe meter casing against unauthorized access, ashereinafter described.

The meter is removably held on the wall 1 of member B by means of a stud11 which is threaded at its inner end 12 and screwed into a boss 13formed on the hood portion a of member B. Said stud extends through lugsl t and 15 formed on the tops of members M and M respectively, and theouter end 16 of said stud is threaded and extended through the member Mand adapted to receive a knurled thumb 17 as shown in Fig. 16.

Base member B has a flat horizontal plate 18 held on the upper surfaceof the bed 2 by means of a plurality of screws 19, 19, etc., so as toprovide a flat surface on which the mail matter may be held, and overwhich the same may be advanced during the operation of the machine.

Briefly described the operating mechanism includes a pair of spacedintermittently rotatable feed rollers F and F mounted externally of themember B, a pair of continuously rotatable forwarding roll 01s It and Emounted inwardly of said feed rollers, a continuously rotatableimpression roller 1, a pair of presser rollers P and P, and a separatorroller S arranged for feeding the pieces of mail matter successively,one at a time in. regular order through the machine, as described indetail hereinafmr.

All of the said rollers are operably con nected together by means of atrain of gears enclosed in the member B and connected together asfollows. The said train of gearing is driven by means'of a driveshaft 1) rotatably held in a bearing 18 secured. in a boss 19 in therear wall 20 of member B" and a crank C is attached to the outer end ofsaid drive shaft and is adapted to be operated by means of a handle 21.

The inner end of drive shaft D carries a gear 22 which meshes with andis adapted to drive a smaller ear 23 carried on a driven shaft DZ Saiddrive shaft is journaled in a bearing 24 in the boss 19 of member B andis also journaled in the front wall 1 of member B, as hereinafterdescribed and shown in Fig. 16. Drive shaft 1) also carries a large gear25 which meshes with and drives a gear 26 of a diameter correspondingtothat of the impression roller land connected with said rollers asfollows:

The gear 26 has a shaft 2'?" which is journaled at its rear end in abearing 28 in wall stances 20 of member B", and at its forward end in abushing 29 secured in the partition member B. The impression roller 1has a shaft 27 extending therethrough which is journaled at its oppositeends in bearings 30 and 31 of arms 32 and 33, which serve to. yieldablysupport the roller I, and the adjacent ends of the gear shaft 27 androller shaft 27 are connected by means of a universal coupling 34.

The arms 32 and 33 which support the roller I are fixed to a horizontalshaft 35 by means of pins 36 and 36 which extend through the hubs 37 and38 respectively, of said arms, and shaft 35 is journaled in lugs 39 and40 which are integral with and depend from the bed 2 of member 13. Thearm 32 has a rearwardly extension 11 which is connected with a tensionspring 42 which serves to hold the roller 1 extended upwardly through anopening 43 in the plate 18 of bed B, as shown in Fig. 16.

The rollers R and R are mounted to the left of and in substantially thesame horizontal plane as the roller I and on a horizontal shaft 4A-which is journaled in a boss 45 on an arm 46, and said arm is pivotallyheld on the shaft 35 which supports the arms 32 and 33. Arm 46 also hasa rearwardl disposed extension 47 which is connecte with a spring 48 asshown in Fig. 14, for holding the rollers R and R normally extendedabove the surface of the bed plate 18, as shown in Fig. 14. v

Motion is communicated from the impression roller gear 26 to theforwarding roller gear 49 by means of a pinion 50 carried on a stud 51held in a boss 52 in the rear wall 20 of member B, while the gear 49 hasa shaft 53 which is journaled in a boss 54 of member B and also in abushing 55 of partition member B.

The shaft 53 of gear 49 and shaft 44 of rollers R and R are connected bymeans of a universal coupling 56, as shown in Fig. 10. The feed rollersF and F are intermittently rotatable by means of a pinion 5? fixed tothe transverse shaft 58 of said rollers, and ada ted to mesh with avertically disposed rac 59 integrally formed with a supporting member 60which is attached to the lowep portion of the apron 3 of the bed plateby means of a pair or more screws (51 extended through the portion 62 ofmember 60 and threaded into the portion 63 of the apron 3.

As shown in Fig. 8, the shaft 58 of rollers F and F is yieldably held invertically elongated slots 64- which are forwarded in lugs 65, 65 on-themember 60, so as to. permit the alternate elevation and depression ofthe rollers F and F. The extended ends of the shaft 58 are held ingrooves 66, 66, formed in the ends 67, 67 of arms 68 and 68 which arefixed to a horizontal and loo lid

Elli

transversely disposed shaft 69 within the ing of the shaft 69 will serveto alternately elevate and depress the shaft 58 and rollers F and Fthereon, and the gear 57 connected with said rollers will be rotated bymeans of its engagement with the .rack 59 due to the connections shownin Figs. 2 and 3 which I will now describe.

The .shafta58 isfixed to the gear 57 or integrally formed therewith,,and said shaft. is also fixed to the hubs 74, 74 of the rollers F andF, while the said rollers have cylindrical bosses 75, 75 bored toreceive said hubs. Now, the hubs 74 have one or more recesses 76, 76formed therein, in which rollers 77, 77, are loosely held, and the sidesof said recess are formed either eceentrically provided with s aced lugswith respect to the axis of the'shaft58, or tangentially so that therollers 77 will thus permit the rotation of the rollers F and F in agiven direction on the hubs 74, but will prevent the rotation of saidrollers thereon and cause the same to rotate with the hubs in anopposite direction.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 14, the arrangement of the rollers 77 and theform of the recesses 76 are such that the rollers F and F will rotate ina clock-wise direction when the outer end of the arms 68 and 68 areelevated due to the connection of the gear 57 with the rack 59, and whensaid arms are depressed, the rollers F and F will remain stationar whilethe hubs thereof rotate in an opposrtedirection.

The separator. roller S-is mounted on a transverse shaft 78 which isjournaled in depending arms 79 and 79 of a yoke 80, and said yoke has athreaded and substan tially elongated stud 81 extended verticallytherefrom and riveted at its lower end 82 to the yoke 80. The stud 81extends through The separator device, including the memhers described isadjustably mounted on a bracket 87 which has a web portion 88 formedtransversely ofthe machine, and is 89. and 90 in the top thereof, trough which the stud 81 is extended and between which an adjusting nut91 is held. Thus, it will be seen that the adjustment of the nut 85 onthe stud 81 will serve to regulate the extensionof the periphery ofroller S relative to the arms 86, 86, while the adjustment of nut 91will regulate the position of the roller S and the guide member 84 withrespect to the rollers R and R, and thebracket 87- is adapted to bestationarily heldby means of an extension 92 which is attached by meansof screws 93, 93 to a longitudinally disposed face plate 94 held atright angles to the axisof the rollers F and F or R and I. a

It will also be noted that the bracket 87 has inwardly curved portions95 and 95 which terminate in bosses 96 and 96 respectively. The boss 96is adapted to hold a stud or spindle 97 which carrles inwardly of saidboss a depresser roller P, while the boss 96 rotatably holds 'a' shaft98 which carries inwardly of the boss 96 the pr'sser roller P as shownin Fig. 9. Thus, the separator roller S and the presser rollers Pand Pare commonly mounted on a fixed bracket 87,. and the separator S isadjustably held on said bracket while the presser rollers P and P arefixedly held, also the separator Fig. 14, while the rollers P and P aremounted slightly to the right of the rollers Rand R.

Within the member B as shown in ig.

on a shaft 7 8' journaled in the rear wall '20 of member B and alsointhe member B, and is adapted to be connected with the shaft 78 of theseparator roile'r S by means of'a universal cou ling 100.

The gear 99 is riven from the shaft 53 ear 49 by means of a pinion 101which xed to the shaft 53 and is operatively. connectedwith the gear 99by means of an idler pinion 102 carried on a stud 103 held on the wall20 of member B. Thus, the separator roller S is operatively connectedwith the driving shaft D, and'theratio of .the said gears is such thatthesp'ed' of the roller S will be substantially less than the speed ofthe associated rollers R and R, also the roller S instead of rotating inan opposite direction to the rollers R and R rotates in the samedirection as the feed rollers.

Now, the resser roller P is ope'rably connected wit the drive shaftthrough the medium of a gear 104 corresponding 1a size .to saidroller-and held on a shaft 105 sup ported in the member B, and said gearmeshes with and is driven by the gear 49, the shaft 105 of gear 104being suitably connected with the shaft 98 of roller P.

, The member M of-the meter housing has a boss 106 in which is held abearing 107 adapted to be driven and fixedly held in said boss. Theinner end of said bearing is bored at 108 to receive a shaft D, whilethe outer end of said bearing is solid and extends through a boss 109formed on the member M. Said boss 109 and the outer end of member 107are correspondingly bored at 111 to receive a seal Wire 112 by means ofwhich the member M may be sealed on the front of member M for preventingunauthorized access to the meter.

The driven shaft D is alined with the shaft D and is adapted to beoperatively connected therewith by means of a tongue and grooveconnection 112 internally of the meter member \4. The wall 1 of member Bcarries a bushing 113, and the rear wall 114 of member M carries abushing 115 corresponding in size and having a bore substantially largerin diameter than the inner end of the shaft D which is extended throughsaid bushin s.

The mom er M of the meter carries a cam 116 which is loosely held onthe-shaft D and has a hub 117 bored to receive the shaft D and slidablyfitting the bore of the bushin 115. Said cam is adapted to bestationarily held with respect to the shaft D by means of a pin 118carried in the hub 117 of. said cam; and extended through an elongatedslot 119 in the inner end of bushing 115, as'shown in Fig. 16. The innerportion of the shaft D carries an actuating cam 120 which has a hub 121bored to receive the shaft D and loosely held thereon and fitting thebore of the bushing 115, while the cam 120 also has an enlarged portion122 which overlies and is rotatably held on an extension 123 of bushing113.

The hub 117 of cam 116 has a pair of oppositely formed diagonallydisposed faces 123, 123, which are adapted to be engaged bysemi-circular peripheral extensions 124, 124 formed on the adjacent endof hub 121 of cam 120, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when the earn 120 isoscillated about the axis of shaft D the cam 116 will be movedlongitudinally on shaft D and to a corresponding extent for. thepurposes hereinafter described.

The shaft D carries adjacent to the cam 120, another cam 125 which isfixed thereto for rotation with said shaft, and cam 125 is in the formof a disc and the major portion of the periphery thereof as at 126 is ofa radius corresponding to the eripheral portion 127 of an extension 128o cam 120, as shown in Fig. 1.7, while the minor portion 129 of theperiphery of the cam 125 is of a substantially lessradius. As shown inFigs. 10, 16 and 17, the portions 126-and 127 are adapted to be engagedby a roller 130 rotatably carried on a screw 131 held on an extension132 of the arm 33 which supports the shaft 27 of the roller I forholding said roller downwardly in normal position against the tension ofspring 42, while the portion 129 of the cam 125 is adapted to be engagedby the roller 130 when the portion 128 of cam 120 is moved from behindthe roller 130, as hereinafter described, for permitting the upwardthrust of impression roller I. This is accomplished by means which Iwill now describe.

An actuator A, as shown in Figs. 8 and 14 particularly, is provided forintermittent operation in an arcuate path between the rollers R and R,and includes an arm 134 which is pivoted at its hub- 135 on a rock shaft136 supported in the lugs 39 and 40 which hold the shaft 35. The freeend e of said actuator is normally held upwardly in opposition to thepassage of mail matter between the rollers R and. R, and S, P and P, asshown in Fig. 14, and said end 6 carries a small roller 135 held thereonby means of a pin 136'.

The actuator A is adapted to be retracted from the path of the mailmatter once at each revolution of the driven shaft D, and to this endthe shaft 136 to which the actuator A is fixed has an arm 137 also fixedto said shaft and provided with a circular knob or extension 138 on thefree end thereof, which seats in a slot 139 formed in the cam 120, sothat when the cam 120 is oscillated the actuator A will be rocked to acorresponding extent. The operation of the cam 120 and actuator A isaccomplished by means of an arm 140 which is also fixed to the actuatorshaft 136 and has an arcuate portion 141 formed on a radius from theaxis of shaft D, as shown in Fig. 17.

This arcuate portion 141 of arm 140 is ada ted to be engaged once ateach revolution of shaft D by a roller 142 which is carried on the cam125, and the extent of the arcuate portion 141 is such that the actuatorend 6 W111 be retracted and held away from the path of the mail matterfor a short length of time so as to permit the entrance of matterbetween the rollers R, R, and S, P and P. The rock shaft 136 togetherwith the actuator A, arm 137. and arm 140 are held normally in theposition shown'in Fig. 17 by means of a spring 143 which is attached atone end to a lug 144 on arm 140, and at its opposite end to a lug 145 onthe wall of member B.

Now, it will be observed that when the cam 120 is operated in the mannershown and described, and the actuator A. is retracted downwardly fromthe path of the mail matter, the arm 137 will move in acounter-clockwise direction, while the portion 128 of cam 120 will movein a clockwise direction so as to permit the arm 130 of follower 133 toride downwardly on the reduced portion 129 of cam 125. Thus, theimpression roller I will be thrust upwardly in such event until theportion 126 of cam vided no piece of matter is present to preventsuchrestoration of, the actuator.

Also fixed to the shaft D, inwardly of the partition member B, I providea camdisc 146 which carries a roller 147 adapted to engage the arcuateportion 148 of an arm 149 fixed to the rock shaft 69 which controls theoperation of the said rollers F and F. The portion 148 of arm 149 isformed on andius from the axis of shaft D and is adapted to be engagedby the roller 147 for elevating the outer ends 67 of the arms 68 and 68'and thus elevating and rotating the rollers F and F, as hereinbeforedescribed.

The rollers F and F are .normally held so thattheir peripheries will bebelow the upper surface of a feed plate 149 by means of the spring 150which is attached atits opposite ends respectively, to an extension 151of arm 149, and to a lug 152 on the. interior of member B, as shown inFig. 17.

The rollers F and F extend through openings 153 and 153 respectively, inthe feed plate 149 as shown in Fig. 1, and are adapted onceat eachrevolution of the drive shaft D to be elevated so that the peripheriesof the rollers will project through the plates for contact with the mailmatter which is adapted to be held'flatwise on the plate 149 with theedges of the pieces of matter resting against the vertical late 94.

For convenience of structure an assembly of parts'as shown anddescribed, I support the plate 149 on the supporting member 60, and asstated, the bracket 87 is supported on a plate 94 so that the feedportion of the machine is of unitary character and may be detached fromthe bed plate of the machine by removing the screws 61 and also by theremoval of a transverse pin 155 which extends through lugs 166,- 166formed on member 60, and similar lugs 167 formed on the member B.

Internally of the member M of the meter I provide a printing cylinder156which has a rim portion 157 and a hub portion 158 connected with therim portion by a triplate of arms 1 59. 159, etc. The hub 158 is boredto receive the shaft D" and is adapted to be fixed to said shaft, andsaid hub also has an'annular bore 159' adapted to re ceive a coiledspring 160 which is compressible between the inner face of the cam 116and the rear end of hub 158, as shown in Fig. 16, for holding the cam116 normally in the position shown in Fig. 16.

The peripheral portion of the cam 156 carries an internal boss 161 whichis bored at 162 to slidably receive a printing member 163 which has adie 164 out on the outer face thereof, as shown in 'Fig. 12, and theprinting member 163 and die 164 are adapted to be held inwardly of theperiphery of the rim 157 under normal conditions, but are adapted to beextended outwardly as shown in Fig. 5 when in printin position.

To this end a die extension mem er 165 is pivoted to one of the arms 159on a screw 166 as shown in Figs. 5 and 11, and one arm 167 of saidmember is pivoted at 168 to the printing member 163 by means of a pinwhich is secured in the end of said arm and through a lug 169 on member163, a roller 170 being held on said pin between the arm 167 and saidlug.

By reference to Fig. 16 it will be noted that the cam 116 is normallyheld in a plane to the left of said roller, but when the member 120 isoperated as hereinbefore described, and the cam 116 is moved to theright against the tension of spring 160, the periphery of the cam 116will occupy the same plane as roller 170, and the periphery of saidroller will engage the periphery of the cam. The cam 116 has a radiallyformed peripheral portion 172 and, a reduced peripheral portion 173which are adapted to be engaged by the die roller 170 for extending andretracting the die 164, Thus, during theoperation of the shafts D and Dand the printing member 156 if the restoration of the actuator A tonormal position, is not prevented by the presence of a piece of matterbeing advanced to printing position, the cam 116 which has been pre-'viously moved into registration with the roller 170 by the retractionof the actuator, will be restored, while the portion 173 of said cam isin registration with the roller 170, but on the other hand, if theactuator A is prevented from restoration by the contact therewith of apiece of matter, the printing member 156 will in the meantime haverotated around the cam 116 to such an extent that the portion 172 ofsaid cam will engage the portion 170 and force the printing member 163and die 164 outwardly into pr nting position, as shown in Fig. 5, and ifthe letter has been printed by contact with the die 164, and the rearportion of the' same has been advanced beyond the point of contactbetween rollers R and R and P and P, the actuator A will be restored andthe cam 116 will also be retracted out of registration with roller 170,thereby permitting the printing member 163 to be retracted by means of aspring 175 which is attached by means of screws 176 to one of the arms159, and has its freeend engaging an arm 177 forming a part of themember 165.

It will be understood that the several cams for effecting the operationof the feed rollers F and F, the actuator A, and the printing member 163are all controlled by wardly the rotation of the drive shafts D and D"and when a stack of mail matter is placed fiatwise in the feed boxformed by plates 94 and 149, the rollers F and F will be first actuatedfor advancing the lowermost piece of matter between the rollers It, andR and separator roller 5, I

The peripheralportions of the rollers F, F, R, R, I and S are of a goodgrade of rubber or the like, in the form of bands for providing amaximum degree of friction, and when the rollers F and F are trust upand are caused to rotate as hereinbefore described, the lowermost letterwill be advanced into frictional contact with the rollers R and R andthe friction of said rollers being substantially greater that thereversely acting friction of roller S, will serve to advance further thelowermost letter into the grip between the rollers'R, R and P, P,whereupon the letter will be continued on through the machine and theremainder of the letters in the said box will be retarded by thefriction of the separator roller S.

The actuator A having been retracted, the letters, one at a time, arethus permitted to pass said actuator and the presence of the lettersserve to prevent the restoration of the actuator so that the operationof the printing member 163 will be effected at each rotation of theshafts D" and D, also, as the letters pass between the printing member164: and impression roller I, impression roller I having been previouslyreleased by the operation of cams 120 and 125 in contact therewith, theletters will be discharged after the printing operation into a stackerat the right hand side of the machine and composed of a vertical guideplate 180 and -a horizontal plate'181. The plate 181 has alongitudinally disposed slide 182 with a vertical extension 183 whichforms a stop for the letters as they are discharged from the machine,and the letters will be stacked flatwise in the stacker.

Referring particularly now to Figs. 5, 6, 7, 11 and 13 I haveprovidedwithin the meter two separate counting units which are operativelyconnected with the. printing member 156 for registering the successiveimpressions made by the printing die 164. These counters embody a unit Uwith a descending scale, and the unit U has an as cending scale, andeach of the units includes a plurality of counting discs d, (1, 'etc.,to which is attached a ratchet as at r, 1', etc., by means of pins 7",1", etc, as shown in Fig. 13. I

Each of the discs ti of the units U and U have numerals from 1 to Oindented on the periphery thereof in regular order, but the numerals onthe periphery of the discs of the unit U are numbered in ascending orderas from 1 to 0, while the discs of theme,

U are reversel numbered from 0 to 1, so that the unit U has a descendingscale while the unit U has an ascending scale.

I may provide any number of the-discs d in each of the counters, but Ihave only shown four of such discs in each of the units in the presentinvention.

Referring particularly now to the unit U, it will be noted that thearrangement of said unit is such that the counters of highest and nearhi hest order are arranged so as to be manual y reset to any desiredpoint. That is,.assuming that in Fig. 13 the'disc d to the extreme leftis units, the next disc to the right is tens, the next to the righthundreds, and the last disc to the right is thousands, it will be seenthat the thousands disc has a tubular shaft t which extends through andis connected with the disc d and the associated ratchet r, and saidshaft extends through a frame member and carries on its outer end anoperating nut n by means of which the thousands disc and its associatedratchet may be turned in a resetting operatlon.

Likewise the hundreds discrd has a shaft 71 which telescopes into theshaft 26 and extends through and is fixed to the disc 03 and ratchet 1'of the hundreds counter. Said shaft is extended beyond the nut n andcarries a nut n thereon by means of which the hundreds counter may bereset. The units and tens counters are commonly mounted on a spindle juwhich telescopes into the shaft h and has its opposite end e journaledin another frame member 7.

A pawl swing g by means of which the several counters are operatedsuccessively in multiples of 10 has an arm g which is pivotally held onthe spindle u and another arm j which is pivotally held on the shaft t.The arm g of said swing is operatively connected with a gear is which isconcentrically held in the spindle u by means of which the swing isoscillated at each printing operation, as hereinafter described. Thisconstruction is typical also of a unit U, except that all of thecounters of this unit are mounted on the spindle in and the telescop ingshafts t, h, and nuts n and a are omitted.

The swing 7 of each unit carries a plumet toothed pawl m pivotally heldon a pin on extending across the swing and held in the arms 9' and j,and the teeth of said pawl are of different size as clearly shown inFig. (3. so that the largest tooth will engage the unit ratchet r, thenext largest tooth will engage the tens ratchet, the next tooth thehundreds ratchet, and the smallest tooth the thousands ratchet,successively, All of said ratchets are provided with deep cut grooveswhereby at one point in each revolution the pawl m may follow thereintofor permitting the counter'of next highest order to be moved one-tenthof a revolution.

Hill

1,5a7,see

rection by the operation of the swing g, and

they are prevented from reverse operation by means of a plurality ofdetents m which are pivotally held on pins :20 held in the frame members7' and f, and springs y serve to hold said detents in operativeconnection with the ratchets 1*. This construction is typical of severalcommercial types of num= bering machines now in vogue, and while notmaterial to my invention I have found in practice that it evidences themost dependable means of operation of the device,

and accordingly have described its operation and structure in detail.

Now, the gears 7s, 7c of the units U and U are adapted to Joesimultaneously operated to a corresponding extent each time the printingdie 164 is extended to printing position. This is accomplished by meansof a member 185 which is pivoted on a shaft 186 jourualed in the framemembers f and f and has sectors 187 and 188 which mesh with and serve tooperate the gears of the units U and U respectively.

The shaft 186 is extended rearwardly from the frame member f and carriesa rocking arm member 189 thereon which has a pair of arms 190 and 191depending therefrom and carrying rollers 192 and 193 respectively. Saidrollers, as shown in'Fig. 5, are disposed'withinrim 157 of the printingmember 156 and are adapted to be engaged by an arcuate formed portion194 of the cam arm l77 when the die 164 is extended to printing positionas shown in Fig. 5.

It will beunderstood that the portion 194 of the arm 177 is formed so asto be concentric with the axisof the shaft D when it is moved inwardly,by the outward movement of the die 164. That is to say, the arms 167 and177 are integrally formed on the member 165 so that when arm 167 movesoutwardly from shaft D for extending the die,

the portion 194 of arm 197 moves inwardly,-

also when the arm177 is in its outermost position, as shown in Fig. 5,the portion 194 thereof will clear both of the rollers 192 and 193. Whenit is moved inwardly however by the extension of the die, the portion194 will first engage the roller 192 and rock the shaft 186 iniaclock-wise direction, and as the printing member 156 continues torevolve the portion 194 will then engage the rollerv 193 which has beenswung upwardly by the depression of the roller 192 and move it inwardlyinto the original position as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the two counterunits U and U are 0 eratively connected together for a simu taneousoperation to a uniform extent by the complete-movement and restorationof shaft 186 by the means described.

It will be seen that rollers 192 and 193 successively engage the,portion 194, and said portion is so arranged that as the roller 193begins to engage the same the roller 192 will begin to disengage and thecam portion 172 willserve to hold the die extended until the completionof the printing operation and to hold the portion 194 rigid foroperating the counters.

Now, by reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the counting discs 03of both of the units U and U are positioned just inside the member M andsupported on the frame members f and f, said frame members beingremovably held in position by means of screws 196, 196 extended through.the bottom 197 of the meter casing M.

Longitudinal beveled openings 198, and 199 are provided in the circularwall of the meter casing opposite the counting units U and U andtransparent elements such as glass or the like, as at 200, are held onthe interior'of said openings and serve to cover the same. Thus, whenthe letters or mail matter is placed in the feed box composed of plates194 and 199, and the crank C is turned, the printingmember 156 rotatesin a counter-clock-wise direction, as seen from the front of Figs. 8 and14, and the letters areadvanced piece by piece beneath the separatorroller S and the presser rollers? and P, the operation of the feedrollers F and F being timed so as to admit the letters to the gripthereof and to retract the actuator A, and because of the fact that theactuator A cannot be restored when a letter is present beneath therollers P and P, the cam 116 remains in its advanced position within themeter member M so that during the further rotation of the printingmember 156, the roller 170 on the die will engage the portion 172 ofsaid cam and extend the die outwardly from the rim 157 of the printingmember, just prior to the time it reaches the printing point which is onthe vertical cen' ter line cutting the axis of the printing member 156and impression roller 1, and the extension of the printing die .causes arocking of shaft 186 through the engagement of roller 192 with portion194 of arm 177, thus actuating the counting units U and U one point andregistering one impression thereon. That is to say, assuming that thecounting unit/U reads 1073 through the opening 194, the first operationof the same "unit. thereafter will cause the counter to read 1072, andthe operation of counter U would be the reverse and one impression wouldbe added to those already registered thereon, as read through theopening 199.

The further rotation of the printing memher will rock the shaft 186 in areverse direction, as previously described, and set both counters U andU in readiness for another thousand additional stamps, the postmaster orproper oflicial would turn the nut 72. and shaft t until the thousandscounter was moved to indicate 1 through the opening 194, and thus thedescending counter would be set for 1031, whereupon the machine could beused until this number of impressions was exhausted, in which event alocking device would be brought into action for locking the memberagainst further use.

This mechanism includes a dog 201 pivoted on a shaft 202 journaled inthe frame members f and f of the meter, and resiliently hold inengagement with the peripheries of the counting discs d of unit U bymeans of a spring as at 203. The said discs d each have notches 204 outin the peripheries thereof at corresponding points, which are adapted tobe engaged by the dog 201 when all of said discs read zero through theopening 198.

The dog 201 has a lug 205 on the lower side thereof which is engaged bya cam 206 fixed to a locking plunger 207 which is both slidably androtatably held in the frame members f and f, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.The cam 206 is fixed to the plunger 207 by means of a pin 208 whichextends outwardly at opposite ends through dia onal slots 209 formed ina sleeve 210 whie encompasses the plunger 207, and said sleeve isstationarily held in compression between the frame member f and the, cam206, as shown in Fig. 7, so that when the dog 201 enters the notches 204of the disc cl, the lug 205 on said dog will be removed as an obstacleto the turning of the plunger 207 in a counter.

clock-wise direction, as seen in Fig. 6, and the tensionof the springserves to force the plunger 207 outwardly and at the same time to turnsaid plunger so that the end of the plunger will project substantiallyoutwardly from the frame member f into the plane of a rib 212 which isformed on a disc 213 suitably fixed to a shaft D" on the hub 158 of theprinting member 156.

This member is shown clearly in Figs. 11 and 16, and it will be notedthat the rib 212 thereof is cut away at 214 so as to leave an open spaceof substantial length into which the plunger 207 may drop after thecompletion of the final printing operation, and the plunger thereforwill prevent the turning of the printing member in either direction,inasmuch as the end thereof will engage the ends of the rib 212 in suchevent.

Now, it will be observed in connection with the meter that the operationof the dedie.

The inking rollermay be readily adjusted vice is entirely automatic,efficient and dependable, and access may not be had to the interior ofthe meter for any purpose, except by authorized parties, Withoutbreaking the Government seal. While not entirely necessary I have showna lock L attached to the meter closure M which may be suitably arrangedfor holding the cover in position when the seal is used, and serves as aholding means additional to the nut 17.

It is desirable that the die 164 should be extended as close to theprinting position as possible and that it should remain extended foratime sufficient to cause the proper inking thereof for a subsequentoperation, and I have shown an inking roller 215 pivoted at 216 on anarm 217 which is adjustably held on a stud 218 on the front wall ofmember B, as shown in Fig. 8. and said roller is adapted to projectthrough a suitable opening in the meter casingM so as to permit contactof the inking roller with the die.

1t will be noted that the meter. members M and M are cut away at thelower portions thereof so as to permit the extension of the die from thecasing, but due to the construction sliown, particularl in Fig. 16, itwill be observed that althoug access may be had to the printing die, thestructure is such that it would be impossible to actuate the samewithout registering on the counters and the same would apply to theopening through which the inking roller is extended into the casing forcontact with the with respect to the pressure on the printing die bymeans of an adjustment yoke 220 formed with the arm 217 between the arms221 and 222 of which an adjusting nut 223 is adjustably held, and ascrew 224 is adjustably held in a lug 225 on the member B and isthreaded into said nut. Thus, the ad- .j-ustment of nut 223 will adjustthe ressure of the inking roller 215 relative tot e die.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 16, the bottom of the members B and B may beclosed by means of a sheet metal member 6 suitably attached to the lowerportion of said members, so that oil used for lubricating the mechanismwill not leak from the machine,-

and also this bottom serves to prevent the entrance of dirt and gritinto the interior for clogging the operating mechanism.

What I claim is:

1. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, and a printingdie extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contac with the mail matter, as described.

2. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily helthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, and means fornormally supporting said printing die in retracted position.

'3. A postage meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarily held thereon, a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, meanssupported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter through themachine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact 'with the mail matter, and meanscontrolled by the advanceof the mail matter to printing position forextending said die for a printing operation.

4. A post-age'meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarilyheld thereon. a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, meanssupported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter through themachine at each revolution of through the machine at each revolution of'said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on saidcylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contactwiththe mail matter, and means normallyopposing the advance of the mailmatter to printing position, and adapted to be retracted at eachrevolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of said die ina printing operation. 6. A postage meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarily held thereon, a.

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, meanssupported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter I through the"machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position 5 for contact with the mail matter, means for normallysupportin said printing die in retracted position, and means normallyopposing the advance ofthe mail matter to printing position, and adaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for con trolling theoperation of said die in a printing operation.

7.' A postage meter including a base, a meter. housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing,means supported on the base for advancin a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted onsaid cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, and an, actuatornormally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter andadapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of'the said die toprinting position permitting the advance of the mail matter to printingposition and to be sustained in retracted position 'due to the presenceof the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die.

8. A postage meter. including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means for normallysupporting said printing die in retracted position, and an actuatornormally extended acrossthe path of the advancing mail matter andadapted to be automatically. retracted at the approach of the said dieto printing position, permitting the advance'of the mail matter toprinting position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to thepresence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation ofsaid die.

9. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing 'stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancin a piece of mail matter throughthe machlne at each revolution of. said printing cylinder, a printingdie extensibly mounted on .said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means normallyopposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position andadaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder, forcontrolling the operation of said die in a printing operation, and meansfor operably connecting the same with said die.

10. A postage meter including-a base, a meter housing stationarily. heldthereon, a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing, meanssupported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter through themachine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter. means for normallysupporting said printing die in retracted position, means normallyopposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling theoperation'of said die in a printing operation, and means for operablyconnecting the same with said die.

11. A postage meter including a base, a

meter housing stationarily held thereon,- a printing cylinder rotatablysupported with in said housing, means supported on the base foradvancing a piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolutionof saidprinting cylinder, a printing die extensibly mounted on saidcylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position for contactwith the mail matter, an actuator normally extended across the path ofthe advancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted atthe approach of the said die to printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printing position and to be sustained inretracted position due to the presence of the advancing mail matter forcontrolling the operation of said die, and means for operably connectingsaid actuator with said die. 12. A postage meter including a base, ameter housing stationarily held thereon, a printing cylinder rotatablysupported within said housing. means supported on the base for advancinga piece of mail matter through the machine at each revolution of saidprinting cylinder, a. printing the extensibly mounted on said cylinderand adapted to be extended to printing position "for contact with themail matter. means for normally supporting said printing die inretracted position. an actuator normally extended across the path of theadvancing mail matter and adapted to be automatically retracted at theapproach of the said die to printing position, permitting the advance ofthe mail matter to printing position. and to be sustained in retractedposition due to the presence of the advancing mail matter forcontrolling the operation of said die, and means for operably connectingsaid actuator with said die.

13. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within saidhousing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece oi mail matterthrough the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, aprinting die exing cylinder,

tensibly mounted on said. cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, and a countingmechanism enclosed in said meter and heldagainst rotation with the saidcylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is renderedoperative.

14. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing pieces of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said print a printing die extensiblymounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing positionfor contact with the mail matter. means for normally supporting saidprinting die in retracted position, and a counting mechanism enclosed insaid meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged foroperation each time said die is rendered operative.

15. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon. a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing.means supported on the,

base for advancing pieces of mail matter through the machine at eachrevolution of said printing cylinder, a printing die extensibly mountedon said cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position forcontact with the mail matter, means controlled by the advance of themail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printingoperation. and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and heldagainst rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation each timesaid die is rendered operative.

16. A postage meter including a base. a meter housing stationarily heldthereon. a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on adapted to be extended to printing position forcontact with the mail matter, means for normally supporting saidprinting die in retracting position. means controlled by the advance ofthe mail matter to printing position for extending said die for aprinting operation. and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter andheld against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation eachtime said die is rendered operative.

17. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the basefor advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said cylinder and tensibly mounted 'onsaid cylinder and adapted to be extended to printing position forcontact with the mail matter, means normally opposing the advance of themail matter to printing position, and adapted to .be retracted at eachrevolution of said cylinder for controlling the operation of said die ina printing operation, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meterand held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operationeach time said die is rendered operative.

18. A postage meter including abase,a meter housingstationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact withthe mail matter, means for normallyopposing the advance ofthe mail matter to printing position. andadaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling theoperation of said die in a printing operation, and a. counting mechanismenclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder andarto be extended to printing position for cont act with the mail matter,an actuator normally extended across thepath of the advancing mailmatter and adapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of thesaid die to printing position permitting the advance of the mail matterto printing position, and to be sustained in retracted position due tothe presence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operationof said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter andheld'against rotation with said cylinder and arranged for operation eachtime said die is rendered operative.

20. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rot-atably supported within said housing.means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder. a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapt-l ed to be extended toprinting position for contact withthe mail-matter, means for normallysupporting said printing die in retracted position, and an actuatornormally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter andadapted to be automatically retracted at the approachof the said die toprinting position, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printingposition, and to besustaine'd in retracted'position due to the presenceof the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die.and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held againstrotation with said cylinder and arranged foroperation eachtime said. dieis rendered operative.

21. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rot-atably supported within saidhousing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted.to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means normallyopposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder, for controlling theoperation of said die in a printing operation, means for operablyconnecting the same withvsaid die, and a counting mechanism enclosed insaid meter and held against rotation with said cylinder and arranged foroperation each time said die is rendered operative.

22. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a' printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said'housing,means supported on the. base for advancing a piece of" mail matter'through the machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, aprinting die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to beextended to printing position for contact with the mail matter, meansfor normally supporting said printing die in retracted position, meansnormally opposing the advance of the mail matter to printing positionand adapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder forcontrolling the operation of said die in a printing operation, means foroperably connecting the same with said die, and a counting mechanismenclosed in said meter and held against rotation with said cylinder andarranged for operation each time said die is' rendered operative.

23. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a pieceof mail matter throughthe machineat each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and ada ted to be extended toprinting position or contact with the mail matter, an actuator normallyextended acrossthe path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to beautomatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printingposition, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printingposition, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presenceof the advancing mail matter for controlling'the operation of said die,means for operably connecting said actuator with said die, and acounting mechanism enclosed in said meter and held against rotation withsaid cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is renderedoperative.

24. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means for normallysupporting said printing die in retracted position, an actuator normallyextended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to beautomatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printingposition, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printingposition, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presenceof the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die,

5 means for operably connecting said actuator -Wlth said die, and acounting mechanism enclosed 1n said meter and held against rotation Withvsaid cylinder and arranged for operation each time said die is renderedoperative.

25. A postage meter including a housing, a continuously rotatableprinting cylinder enclosed by said housing, a printing die extensiblymounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended through an openingin said housing for a printing operation, means for normally supportingsaid die out of printing position, and means controlled by the advanceof mail matter to printing position for extending said die for aprinting operation.

26. A postage meter including a housing, a continuously rotatableprinting cylinder enclosed by said housing, a printing die extensiblymounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended through an openingin said housing for a printing operation, means for normally supportingsaid die out of printing position, means controlled by the advance ofmail matter to printing position for extending said die for a printingoperation, and counting mechanism enclosed in said housing and arrangedfor operation each time said die is rendered operative for registeringthe impressions made thereby.

censee 27. A postage meter including a housing, a continuously rotatableprinting cylinder enclosed by said housing, a printing die extensiblymounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended through an openingin said housing for a printing operation, means for normally supportingsaid die out of printing position, means controlled by the presence ofmail matter at printing position for extending said die for a printingoperation, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said housing andarranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative forregistering the impressions made thereby, said counting mechanismincluding a series of counters of descending order, and a separateseries of counters of ascending order arranged for simultaneousoperation.

28. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported with 1n said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact With the mail matter, and a countingmechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each timesaid die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a setof counters of desecnding order, and a separate set of counters ofascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters whenzero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder againstfurther operation.

29. postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means for normallysupporting said printing die in retracted position, and a countingmechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operation each timesaid die is rendered operative, said counting mechanism including a setof counters of descending order, and a separate set of counters oiascending order, and means controlled by the descending counters whenzero is indicated thereon for locking said printing cylinder againstfurther operation.

30. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means controlled bythe advance of the mail matter to printing position for extending saiddiefor a printing operation, and acounting mechanism enclosed in saidmeter and arranged for operation each time said die is renderedoperative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters ofdescending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, andmeans controlled by the descending counters when zero is indlcatedthereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

31.- A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieex-.

tensiblymounted on saidcylinder and adapted to be extended to printingposition for contact with the mail matter, means for normally supportingsaid printing die in retracted position, means controlled by the advanceof the mail matter to printing position for extending said die for aprinting operation, and a counting mechanism enclosed in said meter andarranged for operation each time said die is rendered operative, saidcoun'tingmechanism including a set of counters of descending order and aseparate set of counters of ascending order, and means controlled by thedescending counters when zero is indicated thereon for locking saidprinting cylinder against further operation.

32. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensively mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means for normallyopposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position, andadapted to be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder forcontrolling the operation of saiddie in a printing operation, and acounting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operationeach time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanismincluding a set of counters of descending order and a separate set ofcounters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descendingcounters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printingcylinder against further operation.

33. A. postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a

printing cylinder rotatably supported within saidhousing, meanssupported on the adapted to be extended to printing position for contactwith the mail matter, an'actuator normally extended across the path ofthe advancin mail matter and adapted to be automatica ly retracted atthe approach of the said die to printing position permitting the advanceof the mail matter to printing position, and to be sustained inretracted positiondue to the presence of the advancing mail matter forcontrolling the operation of said die, and a counting mechanism enclosedin said meter and arranged for operation each time said die is renderedoperative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters ofdescending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, andmeans controlled by the descending counters when zero isindicatedthereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

34. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported Within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing'die extensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means for normallysupporting said printing die in retracted position, an actuator normallyextended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted to beautomatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printingosition, permittingthe advance of the mall matter to printing position,and

to be sustained in retracted position due to the presence of theadvancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die, and acounting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operationeach time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanismincludin a set of counters of descending order an a separate set ofcounters of ascending order, and means controlled by thedescendingcounters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printingcylinder against further operation.

35. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancin a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a rinting dieex-" tensibly mounted on sai cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means normallyopposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder, for controlling theoperation of said die in a printing operation, means for operablyconnecting the same with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed insaid meter and arranged for operation each time said die is renderedoperative, said counting mechanism including a set of counters ofdescending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, andmeans controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicatedthereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

36. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with, the mail matter, means normallysupporting said printing die in retracted position, means normallyopposing the advance of the mail matter to printing position and adaptedto be retracted at each revolution of said cylinder for controlling theoperation of said die in a printing operation, means for operablyconnecting the same with said die, and a counting mechanism enclosed insaid meter and arran ed for operation each time said die is ren eredoperative, said counting mechanism includmg a set of counters ofdescending order and a separate set of counters of ascending order, andmeans controlled by the descending counters when zero is indicatedthereon for locking said printing cylinder against further operation.

37. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece-of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, an actuator normallyextended across the path of the advancing mail matter and adapted ,to beautomatically retracted at the approach of the said die to printingposition, permitting the advance of the mail matter to printingposition, and to be sustained in retracted position due to the presenceof the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation of said die,means for operably connecting said actuator with said die, and acounting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operationeach time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanismincluding a set of counters of descending order and a separate set ofcounters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descendingcounters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printingcylinder against further operation.

38. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact With the mail matter, means for normallysupporting said printing die in re tracted position. an actuatornormally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter andadapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said die toprinting position, permitting the ad Vance of the mail matter toprinting position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to thepresence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation ofsaid die, means for operably connecting said actuator with said die, anda counting mechanism enclosed in said meter and arranged for operationeach time said die is rendered operative, said counting m chanismincluding a set of counters of descending order and a separate set ofcounters of ascending order, and means controlled by the descendingcounters when zero is indicated thereon for locking said printingcylinder against further operation.

39. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a printing cylinder rotatably supported within said housing,means supported on the base for advancing a piece of mail matter throughthe machine at each revolution of said printing cylinder, a printing dieextensibly mounted on said cylinder and adapted to be extended toprinting position for contact with the mail matter, means for nor--mally supporting said printing die in retracted position, an actuatornormally extended across the path of the advancing mail matter andadapted to be automatically retracted at the approach of the said 'dieto printing position, permitting the advance of the mail matter toprinting position, and to be sustained in retracted position due to thepresence of the advancing mail matter for controlling the operation ofsaid die, means for operably connecting said actuatonwith said die, acounting mechanism enclosed in'said meter and ar ranged for operationeach time said die is rendered operative, said counting mechanismincluding a set of counters of descending order and a separate set ofcounters of ascending order, and means controlled by lle'i thedescending counters when zero is indicated thereon :t'orlocking saidprinting cylinder against further operation, and means for resettingsaid descending counters and thereby releasing said printing cylinderfor further operation. y p

40. A postage meter including a rotatable printing cylinder, astationary housing for enclosing'the same against unauthorized access, adie extensibly supported thereon and rotatable therewith, means foradvancing successive pieces of matter to printing position, an actuatorcontrolled by the presenceof mail matter when approaching printingposition, a cam operably connected with said actuator and supportedwithin said printing cylinder for rendering said die operative for aprinting operation.

41. A postage meter including a rotatable printing cylinder, astationary housing for enclosing the same against unauthorized access, adie extensibly supported thereon and rotatable therewith, means foradvancing die, a

successive pieces of'matter to printing posi-' tion, anactuatorcontrolled by the presence of mail matter when approachingprinting position, a cam operably connected with said actuator andsupported within said printing cylinder for rendering said die operativefor a printing operation, and means for retracting said die subsequentto a printing operation and normally holding the same retracted untilagain rendered operative.

4.2. A postage meter including means for advancing mail matter to andfrom the printing point at regular intervals, a meter housingstationarily held thereon, a continuously rotatable printing cylinderenclosed by said housing against unauthorized access, a die extensiblysupported on said cylinder, an operating member rotatable with saidcylinder and connecting with said non-rotatabl cam longitudinallymovable relative to said printing cylinder when a letter approachesprinting position for engagement with and extending said die to printingpositiomand a counting mechanism controlled by said operating memberflor registering impressions made by said 43. In a postage meter acontinuously rotatable printing cylinder, a die extensibly mountedthereon, means controlledby the approach of mail matter to printingposition for extending said die at each revolution thereof, a countingmechanisinfor registering the impressions made by said die, and anoperating member actuated by the movement of said die for positioningthe same in operative relation to"; and for actuating said countingmechanism. v

44. A postage meter including a continuously rotatable printingcylinder, a die extensibly mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, anon-rotatable cam normally supported out of engagementwith said die, anactuator controlled by the presence "of mail matter approaching printingposition, an oscillatable member axially alined with said printingcylinder and operatively engaging said cam for moving the cam intooperative engagement with and for extending saiddie. to printingposition for registration with the mail matter to be printed.

45. A postage meter including a continuously rotatable printingcylinder, a die extensibly mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, anon-rotatable cam normally supported out of engagement with said die,

an actuator controlled by the presence of an.actuator controlled by thepresence of mailmatter approaching printing position, an oscillatablemeinber'axially alined with said printing cylinder and operativelyengaging said cam for moving the cam into operative engagement with, andfor extending said die to printing position fer registration with the,mail matter to be printed, means for rendering said cam inoperatveunless actuated when a letter approaches printing position, and meansfor normally supporting said die inretracted position when no mailmatter is in position for printing.

47. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder enclosed by saidhousing, a printing die extensibly held on said cylinder, an actuatorcontrolled by the presence of mail matter approaching printingpositionfor extending said die into contact with the matter, and a rotatableimpression member opposite said printing cylinder and controlled by saidactuator for rendering the same operative when said die is extended toprinting position. I

48. A postage meter including a base, a meter housing stationarily heldthereon, a continuously rotatable printing cylinder en closedby saidhousing, a printing die extensibly held on said cylinder, an actuatorcontrolled by the presence of mail matter approaching printing positionfor extending said die into contact with the matter, a

